Overview: Burundi

Languages
Kirundi 29.7% (official), Kirundi and other language 9.1%, French (official); French and other language 0.3%, Swahili; Swahili and other language 0.2% (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area), English (official); English and other language 0.06%, more than 2 languages 3.7%, unspecified 56.9%)

IDPs: 168,674 (Some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2018)

Stateless persons: 974 (2017)

Area: Total: 27,830 sq km; land: 25,680 sq km; water: 2150 sq km

Irrigated land: 230 sq km (2012)

Health expenditure
7.5% of GDP (2014)

Drinking water stats
Improved: Urban: 91.1% of population; Rural: 73.8% of population; and Total: 75.9% of population

Unimproved: Urban: 8.9% of population; Rural: 26.2% of population; and Total: 24.1% of population (2015 EST.)

Education expenditure
5.4% of GDP (2013)

Literacy Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write; total population: 85.6%; Male: 88.2%; and female: 83.1% (2015 EST.)

Amendments: Proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (2018)

Legal system
Mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Legislative branch
Description: Bicameral Parliament consists of:
National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (121 seats in the June 2015 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 21 co-opted members; 60% of seats allocated to Hutu and 40% to Tutsi; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms

Elections:

Senate – last held on 24 July 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

Election results: Senate – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Gaston SINDIMWO (since 20 August 2015); Second Vice President Joseph BUTORE (since 20 August 2015); note – the president is both chief of state and head of government

Head of government: Prime President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Gaston SINDIMWO (since 20 August 2015); Second Vice President Joseph BUTORE (since 20 August 2015
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections/Appointments:President directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 July 2015 (next to be held in 2020); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note – a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, approved reinstatement of the prime minister position, reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1, and increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit

Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms